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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "SOLICITOR. WILLIAMS F. WATSON." <debtoffice@gmail.com>
Reply-To: solicitor.williamswatson02@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2014 16:56:05 +0000
Subject: NOTIFICATION OF YOUR TRAP FUNDS NOW RECOVERED!.

European Union Fund Recovery Attorneys
Department of Int'l Affairs
Incorporation # 98621-0074
United Kingdom: 7b the high street, Tadworth,
Surrey, kt20 5sd, Belgium:
Louzalaan 149b-1050 Brussels.



File No:34/98GT/UB/OT22/14.

Dear Sir/Madam,

Re: Notification of Your Withheld Funds Now Recovered:
I am the Director of International Affairs in the United Nation and
European Union Fund Recovery Office in London, Britain. Recently, the
United Nation and European Union has received series of complains
regarding the existence of huge sums of money that are trapped and
left unclaimed in most African Banks and Financial Organizations
especially in African, the United Nations and European Union External
Affairs Department ,my office was mandated by the United Nation and
European Union to investigate and recover all funds belonging to
citizens of the following countries, United States, Europeans, Asians,
Pacific Region and Australian Nationals that are trapped in African
banks, finance houses and other related banks in the world.

On our investigation, we discovered a file no: 34/98GT/UB/OT22/14,
with the total sum of Twenty Five Million, Five Hundred Thousand
United States Dollars only (US$25,500,000.00) with your name as the
beneficiary. It was further discovered that some unknown officials of
the bank have fraudulently attempted to divert your total sum to
unknown accounts until we intervene and recover your funds. My office
has recovered this money and we want you to receive it without any
waste of time while we further continue our investigation to get those
fraudulent officials who were involved in diverting innocent
beneficiary's funds arrested, because of the problems associated with
African Banks, we have decided and resolved that all the recovered
funds will be paid to beneficiaries through Bank to Bank Transfer, or
Cash Delivery Payment System.

Under this arrangement, we have secretly concluded an arrangement with
Private Securities Firm /Top Banks to pay your due payment of
US$25,5M; this is sequel to empowerment given to us by the United
Nations as your representative counsel to ascertain that your due
payment is release to you in due course. If we receive a mail from you
confirming that you are Ready, Willing, Able (R. W. A) To get your
funds paid to you, then we would require the following in order to
apply for the transmission certification as an accredited consultancy
to you, thank you.

1). A copy of your Identification photograph
2). Your Contact/Residing Address
3). Your Direct Mobile/Telephone Number
4). Your complete names.

Thanks,

Yours faithfully,
Williams F. Watson (Solicitor).

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